Formation: Jan 14th - Feb 19th

Formation is the action or process of being formed. In 2017 the Mission Team did exactly this. Formation was the first six and a half weeks of mission Team life. We learnt new skills and gained knowledge, to deepen our faith from a variety of activities and courses lead by so many different faces. Many thanks to all the people who had shared their insight with the team. - Jacko

In the time of Formation the team got up to some pretty fabulous things, here is just a few of them...

Port Hills - 26th January

So we went up to the port hills, played some praise and worship and sung over the city of Christchurch. It was a great night with an amazing sunset over the city. Was a great way to bond as a team while looking over our beautiful city.
#BENTEN - Peter

 Lauren Arrives & Waitangi Day - 5/6th February

Our new team member, Lauren James, arrived from Nelson on the Saturday of Waitangi Weekend. The next day, we went to Akaroa for a Waitangi Day Powhiri, our first outing with Lauren. It was an awesome day, and an eye opening experience for Samantha, our USA representative. We watched a Waka come in, and had an awesome Hangi lunch. It was a great day out with the Boddington Family. - Samuel

Highlights

Samuel: When Peter stalled the van in the middle of the road at the bottom of the hill. A police man pulled up just as I was getting into the driver’s seat to drive up the hill. Peter had done an awesome job driving, having only learnt to drive manual two days earlier. Good work Peter, happy to teach you. Also hanging out with the Boddington family, was awesome to get to know them more.

Wilder - 10th February

The theme for this Wilder was ‘unplugged,’ and we had praise and worship and adoration outdoors, at Victoria Park on Port Hills; with the aim of showing teens that they can worship anywhere, not just at church. We ended by singing spontaneous worship over the city, including ‘Set a Fire’. (but we didn’t mean it literally….Port Hills Fire 13th February...) 
- Teresa

Highlights

Peter: The sunset, and the way it was reflecting on the band and the cross. And then it started to rain when the band was singing ‘Seasons Change’ - the lines were ‘Lord you've been faithful, to plant the seed, and you will be faithful, to always send your rain'.

Liam: Hanging out with my mum and getting to worship and pray with her, and praying with my best friend for the first time 

Teresa:  it was my first time experiencing spontaneous worship, and I also enjoyed singing over the city after everyone had left.

Sparks in the Park - 11th February

Sparks is a big concert in Hagley Park followed by fireworks. We all hung out enjoying the orchestra, pineapple smoothies, the company of Sandra, and a bunch of laughter. It was nice to get away from retreat mode and be normal humans for a night. We acquired a free mango and ate it the next morning for brunch. Also, T-pain never showed up, we're still waiting. <3 Rabs (Samantha).

Commitment Ceremony - 17th February

For our commitment ceremony we all went to JPII centre and spent the time in adoration and prayer, getting to know each other better and Jesus more. It was so nice to finish formation just bathing in the presence of the Lord - best way to unwind. Afterwards we had homemade gourmet burgers made to perfection. - Liam

Commissioning Mass - 18th February

Commissioning mass was such a nice time just to be appreciated and officially sent out to do the Lords will. It was also just a great mass - the music team must have been having a little off day...God Bless them, it was just hard to sing along with at times and even Father Rick got confused with somethings, but all in good Joy. - Liam